Effects of the Aqueous Extract of <i>Zingiber officinale</i> Rhizomes and a Combination of <i>Vernonia amygdalina</i> and <i>Ocimum gratissimum</i> leaves on the Fasting Blood Glucose and Lipid Profile Levels of Al

Vernonia amygdalina, Ocimum gratissimum, and Zingiber officinale are used ethnomedicinally to treat diabetes mellitus (DM) and hyperlipidaemia. However, there is no documented scientific justification. Thus, we evaluated the antidiabetic potentials of the aqueous extract of all 3 plants as well as their effect(s) on the lipid profile of diabetic rats. Alloxan-induced diabetic rats were treated with different doses of the aqueous extract of Zingiber officinale( ZO) and a combination of Vernonia amygdalina( VA) and Ocimum gratissimum (OG), and their fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were compared with FBS levels of untreated diabetic rats and glibenclamide-treated rats. Normal control rats were given distilled water orally. Drugs and extracts were given daily (orally) for 14 days. FBS were monitored at various intervals over the 14 days. Lipid profile was assessed at the completion of the study. The aqueous extract of ZO significantly (p<0.05) reduced FSB levels in diabetic rats and showed a comparable effect to glibenclamide. The extract also significantly reduced total cholesterol and increased HDL levels (p<0.05). The combined use of VA and OG leaf extracts demonstrated significant (p<0.05) activity compared to the untreated diabetic rats. Additionally, extracts combination reduced significantly (p<0.05) the total cholesterol and increased the HDL levels at doses used in comparison with the untreated diabetic rats. In conclusion, our study suggests that combining Vernonia amygdalina and Ocimum gratissimum as done in folk medicine to manage DM could be beneficial. In addition, the aqueous extract of Zingiber officinale possesses promising antihyperglycaemic and lipid profile enhancing properties.